Philippians 2:25-30
Risking Your Life/ Brother, Worker, Soldier
Paul said of Epaphroditus, he is my brother, my fellow worker, my fellow soldier for Christ. He risked his life in the service of Christ. Honor men like him.
Have you ever observed one of your children doing something or saying something and saw or heard yourself? That can be encouraging... or disturbing, can't it?
Where did they get that??? Was it genetic or environmental? Some things are just genetic, like physical features, I.Q. or even temperament. But facial expressions, behaviors and attitudes seem to sometimes pass down genetically as well.
How much of who you are and what you do came from your parents or grandparents?
There are some things we received by birth that are have no control over at all. We don't get to choose who our birth parents are. We don't get to choose our gender. We don't get to choose the genetics we have or the circumstances, time or place of our birth. In fact, most of the things about you and me are simply preconceived and received. Ultimately these are what God has given to us to use for his purposes and through which we may serve and glorify him.
2 Corinthians 5:1-9 describes God's purpose for our lives. We live in this tent that is wasting away for one reason, one purpose. That purpose is to prepare ourselves for eternity with God.
God IS our ultimate Father. He looks at us and wants to see himself. He has passed on to us his very image and likeness so that we can live for him and while we are here, pass on that good news to others and finally be clothed with a heavenly dwelling as this mortal is swallowed up by life.
When you live with that as your focus and quest, when everything else in your world takes a back seat to Jesus Christ and His authority over your life, then you can walk with confidence in the here and now and face life or death with God given boldness and courage.
You will also find yourself walking in the company of people who will not understand you or appreciate you for your lifestyle and choices. You will become a target for critics and Satan's darts. But, so be it! Do not give in or give up. Do not be distracted from your quest for Christ. Join with those who are faithful unto death so that you can receive the crown of life!
This week's The Week magazine had a piece of an editorial about Tim Tebow from National Review by Daniel Foster.
See: http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/284806/tebow-s-religion-and-ours-daniel-foster?pg=1
(Read selection)
Why is that so? Why is it that if you stand up for Jesus you will be put down?
Jesus said, “Beware when all men speak well of you.” Luke 6:26 Jesus also said, “If they persecute me they will persecute you also.” John 15:20 Right before that Jesus said, “The reason the world hates you is that it hated me.” And, “You are not of this world because I have chosen you out of this world.
Paul told Timothy, “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,” 2 Timothy 3:12
Peter said, “If anyone suffers as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name!” 1 Peter 4:16
Christians have historically risked their lives for their faith. Many have given their lives for Jesus Christ and the faith of the gospel. It is not so common for us to see that in America today, but that may be coming sooner than we would like.
Looking back to Epaphroditus in Philippians we see something of an ascending order of commendations on him by the apostle Paul.
First, Paul calls him, “my brother.” This is the first step in our quest for Christ as a Christian. We become family before we face the opposition of the foe. This is important. Every Christian is a brother or sister in Christ. We share the same blood. We share the same Spirit. We are united in Jesus Christ and redeemed to God by the same sacrifice. Jesus has chosen us out of the world to become a family forever in glory and eternal life. That is God's plan “A” for all of us! This brotherhood we share is the starting point for our growth into the spiritual maturity God wants for us. We are born of God, by faith and obedience to the gospel in baptism into Jesus Christ. Born again!
God longs to see himself in you. He made you for this very purpose. This is where the training begins.
Some of us want to stop there. Just save us and let us live happily ever after. But babies have to grow up. We have to learn to talk in the language of our Father, we must learn to walk in his way and according to his will. This requires work.
Paul told the Philippians. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work according to his good pleasure.
Paul calls Epaphroditus “my fellow worker.” We know we are not saved by our works, but we are certainly saved to work. James makes it very clear that faith without works is... not just sick or weak, but... DEAD. Christian works are the symptoms of Christian life. God doesn't just give us birth in Christ, God works in us and through us in Christ.
How do you know if you have become a child of God? How do you know if you are saved? Well? One simple test is this: is my salvation working for me now? Am I becoming more like Christ in what is say and do? Am I more Christ like in my choices and character? The Christian life is not just about whatever you believe, it is also whatever you do. Col. 3:17 says it plainly: Whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Are you a fellow worker in the Lord?
Finally, Paul calls Epaphroditus a fellow soldier. Soldiers of Christ are trained for spiritual war. Here is where the brotherhood and the workers enter the danger zone for the cause of Christ. Here is where the battles are won or lost for God's glory.
Listen to this work talk that turns into spiritual war talk by Paul in 2 Corinthians 6:1-10.
Their Ministry Commended
1 And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain— 2 for He says,
“AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU,
AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU.”
Behold, now is “THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,” behold, now is “THE DAY OF SALVATION”— 3 giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, 4 but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, 5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, 6 in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, 7 in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, 8 by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true; 9 as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death, 10 as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things.
Eph. 6:10-18
The Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Those who grow in Christ are those who become strong enough to risk their lives for the cause of Christ.
We honor our veterans who put their lives on the line and sometimes gave their lives for this country. We understand that they go into harm's way and face risks and dangers for the sake of our freedoms and to protect our national interests.
How old are these men and women who we send into battle? They are as young as 18. Listen, you who are our youth in this church: you are our soldiers of Christ. You are already on the battle fields of the enemy where without spiritual armor, you will be slaughtered. This spiritual war doesn't just engage the adults here. We all are in the midst of a spiritual war. This world is far from a safe place. We all face an enemy who comes against us with demonic deception and spiritually deadly attacks.
As Christians we are all fellow soldiers. Our lives are at risk. You must train and grow in Christ, not just for your sake, but for all our sakes. You count for Christ. You must!
God is a warrior. He says to Jesus, "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool." God goes to battle against evil. He expects us to do the same. If you are in Christ, you are a soldier in the army of God. Serve him well!
Join with your brothers, fellow workers, and other soldiers to fight the good fight of faith!
